Composite Resin Fillings
A composite resin filling is a tooth-colored plastic mixture filled with glass (silicon dioxide). Introduced in the 1960s, dental composites were confined to the front teeth because they were not strong enough to withstand the pressure and wear generated by the back teeth.
Since then, composite resin fillings have been significantly improved and routinely placed in the back teeth as well. They are often considered the standard of care in direct, one-visit filling procedures. Composites are not only used to restore decayed areas, but are also used for dental cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth.
How is a composite filling placed?
After administering a local anesthetic, Dr. Goldy will carefully prepare your teeth for the placement of the composite restoration using ultra-high-speed rotary instrumentation. The cavity preparation is disinfected, conditioned and primed. Then the resin is gently packed into the tooth. The material is hardened with a special curing light and shaped and polished with specific rotary instruments.
What are the advantages of composites?
Aesthetics are the main advantage, since dentists can blend shades to create a color nearly identical to that of the actual tooth. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps prevent breakage and insulates the tooth from excessive temperature changes. Also, the potential toxicity of mercury is avoided that exists in amalgam fillings.
What are the disadvantages of composite resin fillings?
After receiving a composite, a patient may experience some post-operative sensitivity. Usually this hot or cold sensitivity dissipates quickly. There can also be some mild sensitivity to the biting of certain small, crunchy foods, such as seeds or nuts.
Original source: Library of the Academy of General Dentistry